Meanwhile, as more people in poorer countries gain internet access, Wikipedia is becoming a truly global resource. The encyclopedia’s sub-sites are organised by language, not by nationality. Using this method, the richest Wikipedias—as measured by the share of speakers of each language who are active editors—tend to cluster in rich Western countries.
WHY IT MATTERS: after 20 years, wikipedia is proof that "the web" can live up to its potential where the masses can contribute valuable information for the greater good. That being said, wikipedia remains a solution driven by english-speaking white males. The future lies in improving its diversity and maybe transferring some of its learnings to facebook, twitter and other social media. This article summarizes the growth and evolution after 20 years existence.